In recent years’ synthesis of metal nanoparticle using plants has been extensively studied and recognized as a non-toxic and efficient method applicable in biomedical field. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of different parts of medical plant Carduus crispus on synthesizing silver nanoparticles and characterize the produced nanoparticle. Our study showed that silver nanoparticles (AgNP) synthesized via whole plant extract exhibited a blue shift in absorption spectra with increased optical density, which correlates to a high yield and small size. Also, the results of zeta potential, X-ray diffraction, photon cross-correlation spectroscopy analysis showed the surface charge of − 54.29 ± 4.96 mV (AgNP-S), − 42.64 ± 3.762 mV (AgNP-F), − 46.02 ± 4.17 mV (AgNP-W), the crystallite size of 36 nm (AgNP-S), 13 nm (AgNP-F), 14 nm (AgNP-W) with face-centered cubic structure and average grain sizes of 145.1 nm, 22.5 nm and 99.6 nm. Another important characteristic, such as elemental composition and constituent capping agent has been determined by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared. The silver nanoparticles were composed of ~ 80% Ag, ~ 15% K, and ~ 7.5% Ca (or ~ 2.8% P) elements. Moreover, the results of the FTIR measurement suggested that the distinct functional groups present in both AgNP-S and AgNP-F were found in AgNP-W. The atomic force microscopy analysis revealed that AgNP-S, AgNP-F and AgNP-W had sizes of 131 nm, 33 nm and 70 nm respectively. In addition, the biosynthesized silver nanoparticles were evaluated for their cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity. At 17 µg/ml concentration, AgNP-S, AgNP-F and AgNP-W showed very low toxicity on HepG2 cell line but also high antibacterial activity. The silver nanoparticles showed antibacterial activity on both gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli (5.5 ± 0.2 mm to 6.5 ± 0.3 mm) and gram-positive bacterium Micrococcus luteus (7 ± 0.4 mm to 7.7 ± 0.5 mm). Our study is meaningful as a first observation indicating the possibility of using special plant organs to control the characteristics of nanoparticles.

Low frequency-pulsed electromagnetic fields (LF-PEMFs) affect many biological processes; however, the fundamental mechanisms responsible for these effects remain unclear. Our study aimed to investigate the effect of LF-PEMFs on neuroprotection after ischemic stroke. C57B6 mice were exposed to LF-PEMF (F = 60 Hz, Bm = 10 mT) after photothrombotic occlusion. We measured the BDNF/TrkB/Akt signaling pathway, pro-apoptotic and pro-survival protein and gene expressions, and the expression of inflammatory mediators and performed behavioral tests in both LF-PEMF-treated and untreated ischemic stroke mice. Our results showed that LF-PEMF treatment promotes activation of the BDNF/TrkB/Akt signaling pathway. Subsequently, pro-survival proteins were significantly increased, while pro-apoptotic proteins and inflammatory mediators were decreased in ischemic stroke mice after LF-PEMF treatment. The results demonstrated that LF-PEMF exposure has a neuroprotective effect after ischemic stroke in mice during the recovery process.

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Various animal models of stroke have been developed to simulate the human stroke with the development of the ischemic method facilitates preclinical stroke research. The photothrombotic ischemia model, based on the intravascular photochemical reaction, is widely used for in vivo studies. However, this study has limitations, which generated a relatively small‐sized infarction model on superficial cortex compared to that of the MCAO stroke model. In this study, the photothorombosis mouse model is adapted and the optimum conditions for generation of cell death and deficits with high reproducibility is determined. The extent of damage within the cortex was assessed by infarct volume and cellular/behavioral analyses. In this model, the neural cell death and inflammatory responses is detected; moreover, the degree of behavioral impairment is correlated with the brain infarct volume. Further, to enhance the understanding of neural repair, the effect of neural differentiation by transplantation of human bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM‐MSCs) is analyzed. The authors demonstrated that transplantation of BM‐MSCs promoted the neural differentiation and behavioral performance in their photothrombosis model. Therefore, this research was meaningful to provide a stable animal model of stroke with low variability. Moreover, this model will facilitate development of novel MSC‐based therapeutics for stroke.

The current study aims to develop a novel burn wound ointment consisting of sheep’s tail ointment loaded with AgNP. The AgNP in the ointment serves as an antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. The AgNP was developed via the biological method with the assistance of the medicinal plant Rhodiola rosea. The characterization of AgNP was assessed using UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, Zeta Potential, XRD, PCCS, SEM, and EDX techniques. The formation of AgNP was confirmed by UV-Vis spectrum at the absorbance of ∼430 nm, and the biomolecules responsible for reducing and capping the AgNP were characterized by FTIR analysis. The stability of AgNP was determined with Zeta potential, which revealed a highly stable colloidal solution with a surface charge of −68.38 ± 3.4 mV. The synthesized AgNP had a face-centered cubic structure with a crystallite size of 23 nm and average grain size of 67.5 nm. The SEM image showed a fairly monodisperse 20 nm-sized spherical-shaped AgNP. The synthesized AgNP contained high purity of the silver, and a low concentration of AgNP inhibited both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Moreover, the scavenging activity of AgNP was investigated using DPPH and H2O2 scavenging assay, and the results revealed a dose-dependent antioxidant activity with the highest activity at a concentration of 450 μg/ml. Finally, the burn wound healing effect was evaluated by applying the AgNP-loaded ointment to the wound site of BALB/c mice. The in-vivo studies confirmed that AgNP-loaded ointment reduced the wound size, decreased the epidermis layer, and lowered mast cell migration compared to untreated burn wounds. And the synthesized AgNP regulated both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory gene expression, thereby promoting burn wound closure on BALB/c mice. The developed AgNP-loaded ointment has the potential to be applied in the biomedical field.